Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-15

l IhInSoir IL oSisClbly aCGraCCeQ TO Lne yOun
girl. Each day spent in her society onl
served to make him more completely he
slave. The spark of love, so early kindled
had grown and strengthened until at last
burst forth in an all-consuming flame.
II Did Blanche care for him Fred was no
a concerted fellow, but he could not he'll
remembering certain glances cast at hin
from pair of dark eyes, eyes which spok
far more than their owner was aware. AL
1 through the past week he had watched fe
favorable opportunity to tell her in word
that which she must have read so often il
his eloquent looks. But the chance hat
not presented itself; for Miss Sanford, BEN
on making her nephew's visit as lively az
Ipossible, had invited others to Elmwood,
and since the arrival of the party the ole
house had been made the scene of unbound
ed merriment.
/ One evening they were all seated around
the blazing fire in the sitting-recm, every
one talking at once, the subject of conver.
sation being private theatricals. Fred seat
| ed somewhat apart from the rest. was
moodily watching Miss Langdon's fair face.
She was talking to Mr.. Hayden, a gentle
man OF sufficient good looks and popularity
to make Fred a trifie jealous. And as he
saw her smile so sweetly at her companion.
he became completely miserable.
81 cannot endure this doubt much long,
err" he thought. s'To-morrow I will win
or lose all. I will tell her how madly /
love her, how necessary she has become 70
my existence"
The next morning came, and Fred, after
a long walk in the winter sunshine, found
that his spirits were improved greatly. His
heart beat high with hope, he went in
search of Blanche. To-day, this very hour,
he would know his fate.
The library at Elmwood was a large
room at the end of the hall, place where
| Miss Langdon had been in the habit of
| spending her mornings, and Fred, hoping
to find her, made his way there as quickly
as possible. The door being slightly ajar
| he hesitated moment, and then pushed it
open and entered-entered upon scene
| that drove all the blood from his lace, and
caused his heart to ALMOST cease its beat
ing. At the other end of the apartment
| stood Blanche, flushed and excited; at her
feet knelt Hayden, his face uplifted to her
| with an expression of supplication and
pleading. A moments pause, and Blanche.
with loving words upon her lips, extended
her hands to the kneeling man and bade
| him arise.
AS her words fell upon the air a blood
red mist gathered before Fred's eyes. He
clutehed wildly at his threat ; some invisi-
BILE hand seemed to hold him in a grasp of
iron. With great effort he made his way
to the door, but there his strength failed
him. His head began to swim, he stag
gered, and then. fell insensible to the floor,
When he returned to consciousness,
Blanche was sitting beside the sofa upon
which they had placed him, look of anx-
ious solicitude upon her lovely face. As
he opened his eyes she drew back with a
blush.
"Oh, l am SO glad you are better p' she
cried. Il must tell your aunt. She has
gone to send messenger for tho DOCTOR"
She rose as she spoke. Fred looked at
her with darkening eyes.
"Yes, CO." he said, ''your place is not
here. You see know your secret.''
An expression of amazement crossed her
face.
'Secret What secret?'
s'Your engagement with Hayden
Blanche's look of wonder deepened.
II am not engaged to Mr.. Hayden, nor
to any other man," she said softly.
The words had magical effect upon
Fred. He started violently, and grew red
and pale by turns.
"Not engaged ~ he cried excitedly.-
"Oh, Blanche, do not trife with mel
heard and saw all that took place in the
library. heard your loving words-heard
you promise to be Hayden's wife; and now
you would have me doubt my senses, and
believe it all horrible dream"
Mot dream" said Miss Langdon slow
ly, with soft smile. ga real love scene
from play.n
Caairrcr tho x,o,,orr ,,or-1o~oJ ~
preston she continued, s'You remember
we decided last night on having theatri-
cal entertainment, and this morning Mr..
Hayden and were rehearsing our parts"
For some time Fred was too happy for
utterance then he grasped the little hand
and pressed it to his lips.
"Miss angdon-Blanche-I was search
ing for you this morning, to tell you some
thing. Can you not guess what it wasp
He looked at her moment, and theu went
On. 81 sought you with the intention of
throwing myself at your feet, of telling you
how loved you. But when entered that
room the words were frozen on my lips!
Don't think me weak and unmanly in thus
being overcome, for in that scene, which
appeared so real, l read the death warrant
of all my hopes" .'
While he was speaking, the color came
and went in the girls face, and her gaze
was fixed upon the floor.
blanche, darling, is it too late to say
those words now ?"
No answer came from the beautiful lips,
but the dark head dropped lower and lower,
and when at last Fred drew her gently to
him and kissed her, she made no resist
ance.
The scene enacted this time was a real
one.. The words of the actor came not
from the printed page of a play, but from
the depths of two loving hearts. -,
Miss Sandford's delight knew no bounds
| when the young people disclosed to her
their engagement. When Fred spoke of
his affairs, and the necessity of a return to
town, the old lady would not listen to him.
"Stay here" she exclaimed. ''The old
house would be lonely without young
voices in it. Elmwood will be yours at my
death why not remain? There is enough
for us ALL"
| So he yielded to her persuasions, and the
trip to town was indefinitely postponed.
| On bright morning in the following
May, when the fields were green and the
air laden with the sweet perfumes of apple
blossoms, there was a quiet wedding in the
| little church at Elmwood. The words were
spoken which made Blanche Fred Dorsey g
wife. Aud as he led his beautiful bride
away, he vowed that all her future should
be as that May day, full of sunshine and
happiness. -E1chGnge.
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